The Pear Body Shape

To determine if you are a pear body shape, look at yourself in the mirror in your underwear. Stand with your legs together and your arms a bit away from your sides. Examine the area from under your arms, past your bust and ribcage, over your waist and hips to the fullest part of your thighs. Then compare yourself to the image and review the questions and characteristics below. We suggest you look at all the body shapes to find your closest match.

Clothes indexed with this icon are ideal for your body shape

Shop by the 'pear' body shape now

Body shape style advice

Do you

Carry weight on your hips or thighs?
Have narrower shoulders than hips?
Have a clearly defined waist?
Wear a larger size on your bottom half than your top?

Your build is characterised by:

Full hips or thighs, maybe saddle bags
A defined waist
Shoulders that are narrower than your hips
A small top half as well as small bust

Other Body shape tendencies

If you have gained or lost weight many times your body shape can change into another one. Read below to see what other body shape tendencies you might have

You lean towards a full hourglass shape if your top half looks heavier because of a large bust
You can lean towards an apple if your weight gain generally goes onto your bust and tummy areas

General rules for your body shape and how to create visual balance:

You need to balance your top half with your lower half by wearing clothes that make your shoulders look broader.

Your jackets and tops need to finish either above or below the widest point of your hips and bottom
Balance the top with your fuller bottom half. Layering on your top half creates visual interest and draws the eye upwards. Wear volume, clutter, pattern, colour on your top half, so hips and thighs will seem narrower
Wear fitted styles around your waist and always accentuate your waistline e.g. empire line, wraps, fitted lines
Make your shoulders look broader with e.g. shoulder pads, puffed sleeves, cap sleeve t-shirts, boleros

You should avoid:

Narrowing leg, pleats or creases in your leg line, pinstripe suits, turn-ups in your trousers, wide or flared leg lines. Also avoid combat or cropped trousers or culottes
Details, patterns, pockets on your thigh and hip area and belts on your hips
Flared or ruffled sleeve lines, straight skirts or pencil skirts
Bags that sit on your hips
Ankle straps, kitten heels, delicate footwear, round toe shoes, ankle boots with straps around your calf area, Uggs
Mini skirts or any other hemline (including single or double vents in jackets) that finishes on your hips, thighs or any other full point of your leg
Dropped waistlines or dropped panels
Sloping or narrow shoulder lines

The body shapes and their clothing lines

Every body shape has its own characteristics and silhouette, which needs to be addressed when choosing your clothes. The aim of choosing the right clothes is to balance your silhouette. You may not be able to follow all the fashion tends that are out there, but nowadays there are so many trends in fashion that there is something available for every body shape. So, don't get sidetracked by falling in love with a style and look that doesn't match your body shape:

Neckline for pear body shape

Wider collar and lapels, in general you are quite flexible here if you don't have a big bust or a short/wide neck. Great necklines are boat and bardot.

Sleeves for pear body shape

Cap, ¾ length, dropped, batman, puffed, wrist or above wrist are great for you. If you are small to medium busted, puffed and short sleeves will work as well.

Tops for pear body shape More

Fitted shapes are a must e.g. wrap tops or empire lines; vests, waistcoats and stiff fabrics, straight yoke, breast pockets, big collars are great; whether patterned or horizontally striped; all shoulder enhancing shapes e.g. shoulder pads, big shawls, bolero, wide straps, boat neck. View most recently added

Jackets for pear body shape More

Details, collars, pockets, single or double breasted, shoulder pads are excellent, but only on fitted shapes. Hoods, breast pockets, back yokes and back belts in the waist area look great. View most recently added

Coats for pear body shape More

Trench coats are fabulous; watch out for shoulder enhancing details, big lapels, wide collars, double breasted styles (great with empire shaped coats); fuss on top but simple from the waist down; choose fitted shapes e.g. belted coats. View most recently added